I held my breath as the airplane rose heavily off the ground. Once the 'Fasten Seatbelts' sign was off, I was out of my chair. Jessica looked up from her magazine. "What's up?"
"Gotta move, man, move!' I jivved. I walked up and down the aisle, boogying. I had the jitters. Earlier, I had given Geoff my home number, and he promised he'd call. We had parted as friends, but somehow I was disappointed that it wasn't further. Oh, well, I thought, almost tripping on some lady who had her legs sprawled out, like I said, Kris, you can't handle boys.
I raced back up the aisle, thanking Mercury and Virgin for clearing out the first class seats. There were only a few rich types in there that were asleep, clutching their breifcases and snoring as loud as the engines.
Taylor glanced up at Kris, and looked away again.
Face it, man, she doesn't like you, he told himself.
Someone flopped into the seat next to his.
"Hey."
"Hi." "We can't keep snarling at each other, okay?" I told him quietly.
"Easy for you to say." he mumbled, staring at the clouds. It was almost dark. The moon was slightly visible, and the stars were just coming out.
The silence grew.
"You know the most religious sight?" I asked softly.
"What?" he asked flatly.
"When night falls, the moon floats above the clouds, bigger than you imagined. She's the only thing out there. She's alone, taking care of herself. She reflects off the plane's wings, bright. And that mere sight makes us feel small. Makes us remember how insignificant we are." I whispered, leaning over him to look out the window. (*This has happened to me. It's a wonderful sight.*)
Taylor looked out the window, wondering if what Kris was saying was true. He glanced down at her red head, and back out the window.
"It's true." I said, sitting back. "You wait." I settled down into the seat, and leaned my head carefully against his shoulder. I knew I was being horrible to him, and I wanted to say I was sorry.
Tay was tempted to get up and move, but he made himself stay. He was torturing himself, and he knew it. He listened to the soft breathing of her as she fell asleep on his shoulder.
"Dinner." someone whispered in my ear, and I looked up. Taylor glanced down at me, and shifted his shoulder. I sat up, knowing he had kept that awkward position for a long time.
"Sorry. You can do that to me next time." I said, looking at his shirt sleeve. I hoped I hadn't drooled in my sleep.
"It's okay. I'll do it to you next time." he told me, his mouth curved.
"What's on the menu?" I asked, wiping my mouth, my face growing hot.
"Fish or chicken, with vegetables." he told me.
"Yuck." I made a face. I eyed the cheery flight attendant as she wheeled the food cart down the aisle.
"Fish or chicken?" she asked me.
"How about 'blowing chunks'?" I muttered.
Tay snickered.
The girl looked at me blankly.
"Chicken. Ever since The Little Mermaid, I can't eat fish." I told her, pulling my tray down. "I'll have a martini, too."
The attendant stared.
"Coke." I said. "No, make it a Lift." I corrected, and turned to Tay. "I'm sick of snorting Coke." I popped open the tiny can the attendant handed me.
He chuckled, and asked for the fish.
"Sure." the girl said cheerfully, and plopped the food onto his tray. "Anything else, sir?"
I nearly spat my Lift all over the bald headed lawyer sitting in front of me. Sir?! What came out, though, was a strangled snort. My nose burned.
The attendant stared at me again, and asked if I was alright. Yeah, I'm blowing my tongue out my nose, and I'm fine I though sarcastically, and tried to laugh.
Finally, she moved on, and my eyes and nose were streaming. I was a regular fit.
"What is wrong with you?" Taylor asked, slicing his fish with plastic utensils.
"Sir?!" I asked.
"Yeah..." he told me, rolling his eyes.
"Sir my ass!" I laughed, and shoveled the chicken in my mouth.